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Hydrotalcite

Big Photo

Bazhenovskoe deposit, Asbest, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia
© L Kruszewski 2006

Show Hydrotalcite Photos (13)
Formula:
Mg
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
System:TrigonalColour:White, brownish
Lustre:Waxy, PearlyHardness:2
Name:In allusion to its resemblance to talc and the high water content.


Hydrotalcite group.
Dimorphous with Manasseite.

May be confused with meixnerite.

Classification of Hydrotalcite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/E.03-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.DA.50

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
D : Carbonates with additional anions, with H2O
A : With medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:16b.6.2.1

16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : AmBn(XO3)pZqxH2O & with (m+n):p = 8:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.7.4

11 : Carbonates
7 : Carbonates of Al
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Type Occurrence of Hydrotalcite

Co-type Localities:Snarum, Modum, Buskerud, Norway
Dypingdal Serpentine-magnesite deposit, Snarum, Modum, Buskerud, Norway
Year of Discovery:1842

Physical Properties of Hydrotalcite

Lustre:Waxy, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:White, brownish
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2
Cleavage:Perfect
{0001}
Density (measured):2.03 - 2.09 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2 g/cm3

Crystallography of Hydrotalcite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:R3m {R3 2/m}
Cell Parameters:a = 3.07Å, c = 23.23Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 7.567
Unit Cell Volume:V 189.61 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Massive, with a foliated or contorted lamellar structrue on {0001}. Indistinct plates; lamellar-fibrous.
Comment:Z = 3/8
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
7.69 (100)
3.88 (70)
2.58 (20)
2.30 (20)
1.96 (20)
1.53 (20)

Optical Data of Hydrotalcite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.511 - 1.531 nε = 1.495 - 1.529
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.016

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low

Chemical Properties of Hydrotalcite

Formula:
Mg
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, C, H, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:Al, C, H, Mg, O

Relationship of Hydrotalcite to other Species

Member of Group:
Hydrotalcite Group:
Mg
 
6
R
3+
2
(OH)
 
16
CO
 
3
·4H
 
2
O, where R
3+
 
 = Al, Cr, or Fe
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.DA.05Dypingite
Mg
 
5
[OH|(CO
 
3
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
5.DA.05Giorgiosite
Mg
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.05Hydromagnesite
Mg
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.05Widgiemoolthalite
Ni
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
] · 5H
 
2
O
5.DA.05UM1986-10-CO:ClHMgMnZn
Mg
 
5
(Zn,Mn)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH,Cl)
 
12
·H
 
2
O
5.DA.05UM1987-01-CO:HMgS
Mg
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O ?
5.DA.10Artinite
Mg
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
5.DA.10Indigirite
Mg
 
2
Al
 
2
[(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
] · 15H
 
2
O
5.DA.10Chlorartinite
[Mg
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(H
 
2
O)(OH)]Cl · H
 
2
O
5.DA.15Otwayite
Ni
 
2
CO
 
3
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
5.DA.15Zaratite
Ni
 
3
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
5.DA.20Kambaldaite
NaNi
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
5.DA.25Callaghanite
Cu
 
2
Mg
 
2
[(OH)
 
6
|CO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
5.DA.30Claraite
(Cu,Zn)
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.35Hydroscarbroite
Al
 
14
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
36
·nH
 
2
O
5.DA.35Scarbroite
Al
 
5
(OH)
 
13
CO
 
3
·5H
 
2
O
5.DA.40Caresite
Fe
2+
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
5.DA.40Quintinite
Mg
 
4
Al
 
2
(OH)
 
12
CO
 
3
H
 
2
O
5.DA.40Charmarite
Mn
2+
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Barbertonite
Mg
 
6
(Cr,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Brugnatellite
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
 
[(OH)
 
13
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Chlormagaluminite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|(Cl
 
2
,CO
 
3
)] · 2H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Manasseite
Mg
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Sjögrenite
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.45Zaccagnaite
Zn
 
4
Al
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
12
·3H
 
2
O
5.DA.50Comblainite
(Ni
 
x
,Co
 
1-x
)(OH)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
(1-x)/2
·nH
 
2
O
5.DA.50Desautelsite
Mg
 
6
Mn
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.50Pyroaurite
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.50Reevesite
Ni
 
6
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.50Stichtite
Mg
 
6
Cr
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.50Takovite
Ni
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.DA.50UM1998-10-CO:CoHNi
Co
 
6
Fe
 
2
CO
 
3
(OH)
 
16
·4H
 
2
O ?
5.DA.55Coalingite
Mg
 
10
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
24
|CO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.7.1Scarbroite
Al
 
5
(OH)
 
13
CO
 
3
·5H
 
2
O
11.7.2Hydroscarbroite
Al
 
14
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
36
·nH
 
2
O
11.7.3Dawsonite
NaAlCO
 
3
(OH)
 
2
11.7.5Manasseite
Mg
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
11.7.6Indigirite
Mg
 
2
Al
 
2
[(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
] · 15H
 
2
O
11.7.7Alumohydrocalcite
CaAl
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
11.7.8Para-alumohydrocalcite
CaAl
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
11.7.9Tunisite
NaCa
 
2
Al
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
8
Cl
11.7.10Wermlandite
Mg
 
7
(Ca,Mg)(Al,Fe)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
18
(H
 
2
O)
 
12
11.7.11Montroyalite
Sr
 
4
Al
 
8
[(OH,F)
 
26
|(CO
 
3
)
 
3
] · 10-11H
 
2
O
11.7.12Dresserite
BaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
11.7.13Hydrodresserite
BaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
11.7.14Strontiodresserite
(Sr,Ca)Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O

Other Names for Hydrotalcite

Synonyms:
VölckneriteVolkermiteVölkernite
Other Languages:
German:Hydrotalcit
Völcknerit
Volkermit
Völkernit
Japanese:ハイドロタルカイト
Spanish:Hydrotalcita
Völcknerita
Volkermita
Völkernita
Varieties:
Houghite

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Hydrotalcite

Reference List:Foshag (1920), U.S. National Museum, Proceedings: 58: 147.

Frondel, C. (1941), American Mineralogist: 26: 295.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 653-655.

Processi verbali della Società Toscana di scienze naturali in Pisa: 24: 92-105.

American Mineralogist (1967): 52: 1036-1047.

Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum: 58: 147-153.

Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 67: 409-419.

Journal of Physical Chemistry: 100: 8527-8534.

Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte: 544-551.

Mineralogical Magazine: 39: 377-389.

Internet Links for Hydrotalcite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Hydrotalcite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Hydrotalcite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Hydrotalcite

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Australia
     
    • Tasmania
      • Trial Harbour district
    		Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
    • Western Australia
      • Wiluna Shire
        • Mount Keith
    		Grguric, B.A. (2003) Minerals of the MKD5 nickel deposit, Mount Keith, Western Australia. Australian Journal of Mineralogy, Vol. 9, No. 2 , pg. 55-71.
    Austria
     
    • Styria
      • Bad Gleichenberg
        • Wilhelmsdorf
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
      • Leoben
        • Kraubath
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Canada
     
    • Québec
      • Estrie
        • Les Sources RCM
          • Asbestos
    		Horváth & Spertini (2008 & 2009)
      • Gatineau Co.
        • Hull Township
          • Wakefield area
        • Wakefield Township
    		Geological Survey of Canada Miscellaneous Report 41
      • Mégantic Co.
        • Black Lake
    		Canadian Museum of Nature collection
    Sabina (1967)
        • Coleraine Township
    		Gaudard (1993)
    Czech Republic
     
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Vysočina Region
        • Žďár nad Sázavou
          • Věžná
    		Canadin Mineralogist, Vol 17, 1979, pp. 583-588.
    Petr Pauliš (2001): Nejzajímavější mineralogická naleziště Moravy a Slezska. Kuttna, Kutná Hora.
    France
     
    • Languedoc-Roussillon
      • Pyrénées-Orientales
        • Céret
          • Prats de Mollo-La Preste (Prats de Molló-La Presta)
    		Goujou J-C., Guitard G., Berbain C. (2000), Le massif de Costabonne, 2464 m (Pyrénées-Orientales), Le Règne Minéral, n°32, pp: 5-12
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		Walenta, K. (1992): Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes. Chr. Weise Verlag, München, 336 pp. (in German); WALENTA, K. (1995): Neue Mineralfunde von der Grube Clara. 6. Folge, 1. Teil. - Lapis 20 (5), 33-38.
    • Bavaria
      • Franconia
        • Maroldsweisach
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz Mts
        • Clausthal-Zellerfeld
          • Oberschulenberg
    		No reference listed
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Daun
          • Üdersdorf
    		Hentschel, G., Die Minerale der Üdersdorfer Lava, Lapis, Weise Verlag, München, 11/1989
        • Gerolstein
          • Birresborn
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag, München (2. Auflage), 1987
        • Hillesheim
          • Zilsdorf
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien des Arensberges bei Zilsdorf, Eifel, Der Aufschluß 29, 219-227, 1978
        • Niederzissen
          • Brenk
    		Blass, G., Els, F., Über den Erstfund von Hydrotalkit-kristallen vom Schellkopf bei Brenk in der Vulkaneifel, MW 4/1993
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Oberwiesenthal
          • Niederschlag
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium)
            • Lavrion Mines
    		No reference listed
          • Sounion area
            • Sounion Mines
    		Lapis, 24, 7/8 (1999)
    Hungary
     
    • Fejér Co.
      • Szár Hill
        • Kőszárhegy
    		Szakáll: Minerals of Szár Hill, 2004
    • Pest Co.
      • Visegrádi Mts.
        • Dunabogdány
    		Harangi, S. et al. (2009): Dunabogdány: Zeolites, laccolith, contact zone, Field Trip 2, 9th September 2009. MinPet2009 field trip booklet, 17 pp.
    Israel
     
    • Negev desert
    		Gross, S. (1977): The Mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geological Survey of Israel, Bulletin no. 70, 80 pp.
    Italy
     
    • Piedmont
      • Torino Province
        • Canavese District
          • Léssolo
            • Cálea
    		Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo "F. Eusebio" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.
    • Veneto
      • Vicenza Province
        • Tretto di Schio
          • Val Munari
            • Contrade Maglio-Pornaro
    		Ref. Boscardin M. (1988) - I minerali di un nuovo giacimento di contatto presso Schio (VI) - Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, Milano, fasc. 2, pp.73-78
    Jordan
     
    http://www.natural-analogues.com/maqarin.htm
    Norway
     
    • Buskerud
      • Modum
    		Hochstetter (1842); Manasse (1915); Frondel (1941, table 1); Neumann (1985, p. 102); Raade (1996, pp. 45-46).
    Am Min 26 (1941), 295; Jøsang, Ottar (1966): Geologiske og petrologiske undersøkelser i Modumfeltet. Norges Geologiske Undersøkelse nr 235, 91-97
    • Telemark
      • Kragerø
        • Sannidal
    		Neumann (1985, pp. 98 and 102).
    Poland
     
    • Małopolskie
      • Kraków
        • Dębnik-Dubie area
    		Muszyński M., Wyszomirski P. 1998: Przeobrażenia kontaktowe węglanowych skał dewonu w okolicach Dubia koło Krakowa. Geologia 24, 3, 200-217
    • Upper Silesia (Śląskie)
      • Zawiercie District
    		Koszowska E., Salata D. 2001: Minerals of the hydrotalcite group in metasomatically altered carbonate rocks from Zawiercie, S Poland. Mineralogia Polonica, vol. 32, no 1, 69-84
    Romania
     
    • Mehedinti Co.
      • Almas Mts.
    		Minerals of Carpathians
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Zheleznogorsk
    		Mazurov, M.P., Grishina, S.N., Istomin, V.E., and Titov, A.T. (2007): Geology of Ore Deposits 49(4), 271-284.
    No reference listed
        • Aldan Shield
    		Schreyer et al (1998), Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 133: 382-388.
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
    		www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/khib.htm
          • Kovdor Massif
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    http://maurice.strahlen.org/kola/kovdor.htm
    • Urals Region
      • Middle Urals
        • Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast'
          • Asbest
    		Dana 7:I:654.
      • Southern Urals
        • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
          • Ufaley (Ufalei) District
    		Talovina, I.V., Lazarenkov, V.G., and Vorontsova, N.I. (2003): Lithology and Mineral Resources 38(5), 403-415.
    South Africa
     
    • Limpopo Province
      • Phalaborwa
        • Loolekop
    		Minerals of South Africa
    Sweden
     
    • Värmland
      • Filipstad
    		Nysten, P., Holtstam, D. and Jonsson, E. (1999) The Långban minerals. In Långban - The mines,their minerals, geology and explorers (D. Holtstam and J. Langhof, eds.), Swedish Museum of Natural History and Raster Förlag, Stockholm & Chr. Weise Verlag, Munich, pp. 89-183. ; K:Gatedal
    No reference listed
    • Västmanland
      • Ljusnarsberg
        • Kopparberg
          • Kaveltorp
    		No reference listed
    Tajikistan
     
    • Viloyati Mukhtori Gorno-Badakhshan (Viloyati Badakhshoni Kuni)
      • Pamir Mts
        • Pyandzh River Valley
          • Kukh-i-Lal (Kukhilal; Kuhi-lal)
    		Pavel M. Kartashov data
    Turkey
     
    • Mediterranean Region
      • Burdur Province
        • Taurus Mts
          • Doganbaba
    		American Mineralogist, Volume 61, pages 825-830, 1976
    UK
     
    • England
      • Somerset
        • East Harptree
    		BMS Database
    USA
     
    • California
      • Fresno Co.
        • Diablo Range
          • New Idria District
            • New Idria Mine area
    		Mumpton, F.A. Jaffe, H.W., and Thompson, C.S. (1965) Coalingite, a new mineral from the New Idria serpentinite, Fresno and San Benito counties, California. American Mineralogist: 50: 1893-1913; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 198.
      • Riverside Co.
        • Crestmore
    		[micromounts@yahoogroups.com]
      • San Benito Co.
        • Diablo Range
    		American Mineralogist 1965: 50: 1893-1913.
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
          • Franklin
    		Dunn, P.J.: Min.Rec.:10:160-165 (1979); Dunn(1995):Pt4:621.
        • Vernon Township
    		No reference listed
    • New York
    		[var: Houghite] Ford, 1932. Dana's Textbook of Mineralogy, 4th ed.
      • Putnam Co.
        • Brewster
    		The Minerals of New York City & Its Environs, New York Mineralogical Club Bull. Vol. 3, No. 1, Manchester, J.G. (1931): 94.
    [var: Houghite] Ford, 1932. Dana's Textbook of Mineralogy, 4th ed.
    • Washington
      • Stevens Co.
        • Chewelah District
          • Chewelah
    		Minerals of Washington, Bart Cannon, 1975
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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